Rex Hunt, former Falklands governor, dies at 86

The Associated Press •November 12, 2012 8:41 pm

LONDON — Sir Rex Hunt, who was governor of the Falkland Islands at the time of the Argentine invasion in 1982, has died. He was 86.

Prime Minister David Cameron said Monday that Hunt “should be a hero to everyone in Britain” for his service during the war, in which Britain successfully reclaimed the contested islands, called the Malvinas by the Argentines.

“He gave years of dedicated service to this country and to the Falkland Islands,” Cameron said. “Faced with invading forces in Port Stanley in April 1982, his courage, resolve and judgment fired the spirit of the Islanders and the British people to stand up to aggression and to defend the rights and freedom of the Islanders. My thoughts are with his family and friends as they mourn him today.”

Hunt’s government said the former governor, who died at a hospital in his country on Sunday, will be remembered “for his courage and dignity” at the time of the Falklands conflict.

Hunt was taken captive by Argentine forces and expelled to Uruguay. He returned to the islands after British forces defeated the invaders, and resumed serving as governor until 1985. He also served for many years as chairman of the Falkland Islands Association and as president of the UK Falkland Islands Trust.